Unlocking the Benefits of Google’s AI Overviews: What Can They Do for You?

Google has faced criticism for providing inaccurate, humorous, and downright strange answers through its newly launched AI Overviews in search results.

These AI Overviews, which rolled out more broadly earlier this month, have yielded mixed results. For example, one user seeking advice on how to make cheese stick to their pizza was mistakenly told to add glue, a response sourced from an old Reddit thread. In another instance, a user was advised to eat “one small rock per day,” a response ironically pulled from The Onion.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t encounter such bizarre results or can't replicate viral searches; Google is actively working to improve the accuracy of these answers. A company spokesperson stated that they are taking “swift action” and using these examples to implement enhancements across their systems. “The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high-quality information, along with links for deeper dives,” the spokesperson noted. “Many examples displayed online involve uncommon queries or were fabricated, and we have been unable to reproduce them. We conducted thorough testing before launching this new feature and genuinely value user feedback.”

Thus, it’s reasonable to expect that search results will improve over time, and some of the amusing screenshots circulating on social media were likely designed for entertainment rather than accuracy.

The emergence of AI search results raises the question: What purpose do they serve? Even if functioning flawlessly, how would they enhance the traditional web search experience?

Google aims to deliver essential answers without requiring users to sift through multiple web pages. According to the company, early tests of AI Overviews revealed that “users engage with Search more and express higher satisfaction with the results.”

However, the concept of eliminating "10 blue links" isn't new. Although Google has diminished their prominence, it may be premature to abandon these traditional links altogether.

While it is essential to recognize the shortcomings of AI Overviews, it's crucial to note that many errors may manifest as mundane inaccuracies rather than entertaining missteps. Credit to Google for including source links within the Overviews, yet determining which answer corresponds to which source requires additional clicks.

Google also highlighted that the inaccuracy of some results circulating on social media often stems from "data voids," referring to subjects with limited reliable information online. While this is a valid point, it emphasizes that AI, like traditional search, relies on a vibrant web rich in accurate content.

However, the rise of AI could pose an existential threat to that same open web. If users primarily engage with AI-generated summaries—regardless of their accuracy—there would be less motivation to create thorough how-to articles or pursue substantial investigative reporting.

Google claims that with AI Overviews, “users are exploring a wider variety of websites for assistance with more complex queries,” and that “the links featured in AI Overviews receive more clicks compared to traditional web listings.” I genuinely hope this is accurate. If not, no amount of technical improvements will compensate for significant portions of the web that could disappear.

AI, Google